Salīdzinot ar Lubānu, kur trase bija gara, šis formāts man bija tāds parocīgs – īss pārbrauciens un trīs ātruma testi pēc kārtas. Tāds intervāla, sprinta formāts. Man patika,
Kārlis Sabulis said after capturing the EGP class victory and the 2026 Latvian Enduro Championship title in Priežkalni.
Racing returned to Priežkalni in Jelgava Municipality after a five-year hiatus on Saturday, October 3, as 84 riders from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, and Finland gathered to contest the final round of the national enduro season, according to reports from Latvian motorsport sources. The event utilized a concentrated sprint format featuring short liaison stages followed by three consecutive speed tests—enduro, grass, and extreme—demanding precise machine control across concrete slabs, culverts, tires, and logs under warm, sunny skies.
Priežkalni Track Return Draws 84 Competitors
The final stop of the Latvian Enduro calendar brought an international field of 84 participants to Priežkalni on October 3, marking the venue’s return after five years. Riders from across the Baltic states alongside a lone competitor from Finland raced an untraditional sprint configuration designed by organizers to emphasize technical execution over distance. Rather than long, grueling cross-country liaisons typical of traditional enduro rounds, the Priežkalni layout paired compact liaison routes with rapid-fire speed tests.
Warm and sunny weather favored both the paddock and spectators throughout the day, providing optimal track conditions for the season-ending showdown. Competitors navigated three distinct timed stages: a traditional enduro test, an open grass test, and a technical extreme test filled with heavy concrete plates, large drainage pipes, stacked tires, and massive timber logs. Riders praised the configuration after the finish, noting that the back-to-back testing format required unflagging concentration and disciplined energy management across every heat.
Kārlis Sabulis Dominates EGP Class to Claim National Crown
In the EGP division, Motosports Racing Team rider Kārlis Sabulis delivered a performance by setting the fastest time across all three speed tests. His teammate Miks Rasmanis secured second place, while Edgars Siliņš rounded out the overall podium in third position.
The victory cemented Sabulis’s dominance in the 2026 Latvian Enduro Championship, sealing his status as national champion at the conclusion of the season. Reflecting on his campaign, Sabulis noted that his background in professional motocross instilled a relentless drive for peak performance. Prieks, ka visas sacensības Latvijā tika uzvarētas. Jūtos tiešām labi. Šogad nebija tik daudz treniņu uz motocikla, bet bija tā pārliecība,
he said, acknowledging that despite limited motorcycle training time, his third year competing on enduro machinery provided the familiarity needed to secure victory.
Sabulis also credited team supporters and collaborators, including Lauris Ermanis and the Motosports Racing Team. His competitive schedule remains active, with plans to travel to Germany at the end of October alongside teammates Miks Rasmanis and Edgars Siliņš to compete in Enduro Nācijās.
AG Xtreme Organizer Appraises New Sprint Format
Event organizer Andris Grīnfelds of AG Xtreme described the Priežkalni finale as a resounding success, highlighting the favorable weather and positive competitor feedback regarding the experimental schedule. Šis jaunais formāts, kuru izmēģinājām šajā posmā, ar koncentrēšanos vairāk uz testiem un īsāku pārbraucienu, šķiet, ka strādāja,
Grīnfelds noted, adding that initial reviews from the paddock were overwhelmingly encouraging.
Grīnfelds admitted to initial anxiety regarding the extreme test, specifically whether obstacles involving tires, concrete, and logs would prove excessively intimidating for the entry list. However, seeing all competitors successfully clear the technical challenges vindicated the course design choices. Official timing and classification data from the event remain accessible via Motomania’s race tracking platform.
Keep reading
